Warp knitting machine with pattern

A warp knitting machine, comprising a plurality of bearded needles, each having a hook;

• a pattern press, including a driven press bar and a plurality of individually and selectively controllable pressing elements on said press bar, each pressing element being aligned with a corresponding one of said needles for contacting said hook thereof;
• and a plurality of piezoelectric bending transducers, each of which has a fixed end distal to a corresponding one of said pressing elements and a free end proximate to said corresponding one of said pressing elements, said free end being extendable in a generally longitudinal direction toward said corresponding one of said pressing elements and being displaceable in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinal direction between a first position, in which said free end is positioned so as to contact said corresponding one of said pressing elements in response to the extension of said free end in said longitudinal direction, and a second in response to the extension of said free end in said longitudinal direction.